Stay at one of America’s long heralded most beautiful beach resorts, Hotel del Coronado. At “the Del” you’ll be staying in a National Historic Landmark, as designated in 1977. In 2012, Coronado was named America’s best beach by Dr. Beach, a coastal expert. While you will love relaxing at the resort’s gorgeous beach or grabbing a pina coloda near the pool, your grandchildren will love Kidtopia Camp, the Del’s facility for children ages 4-12.

Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay1355 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA (619) 232-3861www.hisandiegoonthebay.comPrice: Rooms starting at $119/night

Have the best of both worlds at the Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay. It’s only a short walk to many of San Diego’s main attractions and offers spectacular views of the Bay. Spend the day at the beautiful heated outdoor pool or enjoy lunch at one of three on-site dining destinations.

Old Town Inn4444 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA(619) 260-8024www.oldtown-inn.comPrice: Rooms starting at $120/night

The Old Town Inn is a beautiful and colorful place to stay in San Diego, located within the heart of Old Town San Diego. A great place to stay for those relying on public transportation, the Old Town Inn is a short walk from the Old Town Transit Center, where you can find a trolley to any of San Diego’s main attractions. At the Old Town Inn, parking, internet, breakfast and movies are always free.

There are great deals to be found at the newly renovated San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina. Book a Sunshine Package for free self-parking and a daily $40 food and beverage credit. If you’re looking to rent a car for your stay, there’s a Hertz rental right on the hotel property.

There’s something for the whole family at the San Diego Burger Company. Try one of their award winning sirloin burgers. Or if beef isn’t for you, try a turkey burger, a garden burger. Or, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, order a buffalo burger, a kangaroo burger or an ostrich burger!

The Old Town Mexican Café prides itself on having “the best tacos in town” and has the awards to back it up. This family-friendly atmosphere is great after a long day of exploring the Missions in Old Town San Diego. Your grandchildren will love the mariachi bands that roam through the dining room and watching the café workers make fresh homemade tortillas.

Station Tavern always serves up fresh, local food. But what makes this spot one of the most kid friendly places to eat in San Diego is the atmosphere. The large backyard features picnic table style dining and a play area for kids complete with chalkboards and a miniature trolley. The simple menu and “Lil Riders” options guarantee that everyone will find something they love.

Milkshake, rattle and roll at the Corvette diner! This blast from the past dining destination will remind you of your own days as a youngin’. It’s modeled after a 1950’s diner, complete with sassy waitresses in poodle skirts and bouffant hair-dos. With a fully-stocked game room that features air hockey and pinball machines, kids will have no problem waiting for the food to arrive.

Come sun burnt, come sweating, come however you want! Hodad’s is the quintessential place for a “casual” bite to eat, promising that no shirt and no shoes is no problem. The restaurant is always loud, so no need to worry about bringing a lot of children. The menu is strictly burgers, sides and drinks so if you’re looking for a great tasting meal (they claim they have the world’s best burger!) without the fuss, Hodad’s is the place.

No trip to San Diego is complete without visiting its most famous attraction: the San Diego Zoo. This zoo is one of the biggest in the world and is home to the largest number of giant pandas outside of mainland China. Kids will especially love the Skyfari aerial tram, giving them a bird’s-eye view of the entire park.

With plenty of rides, shows and exhibits, there will never be a moment of boredom at Sea World San Diego. Spend the day on rides like Shipwreck Rapids (a wild water rafting adventure) and Manta (the park’s newest mega-coaster) or take in a show like Shamu Rocks or Sea Lions LIVE. At the Sesame Street Bay of Play, your grandchildren can meet their favorite TV characters and splash around in the fountains and pool areas.

If you have grandchildren with grand imaginations, a trip to LEGOLAND is certainly recommended. It’s located about 40 minutes outside of San Diego in Carlsbad, but the trip to the 128-acre theme park is certainly mandatory for any young LEGO architect. Take a ride on the Bionicle Blaster or visit Dino Island to see life-sized LEGO brick dinosaurs, including a 1,100 pound Brachiosaurus!

The puppet theater, located in Balboa Park, offers shows for children of all ages and adults. Come see Muppet-style puppets, marionettes and more in a variety of shows like Cinderella, Peter and the Wolf, and King Midas. Each season brings new shows, so there’s always a reason for another visit.

On a beautiful day, look no further than taking a trip to Balboa Park, “a landscape of art and culture.” At the nation’s largest urban cultural park you can experience museums, performing arts venues, gardens, trails and play areas. Younger grandchildren will love the Balboa Park Carousel and Miniature Railroad, while older grands may be interested in catching a game of lawn bowling or taking a Foxtrot lesson with the Balboa Park Dancers.

Take in amazing views of San Diego and the harbor at the Cabrillo National Monument. Take a hike on the two-mile Bayside Trail or relax at Whale Overlook, where it’s common to see whales in January and February and offers pleasant views all year long. Your grandchildren will love tide pooling during low tide and visiting the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, one of the original eight lighthouses on the West Coast.

Take your grandchildren out to the ballgame at Petco Park! Catch a game up-close or take a behind the scenes tour. A true testament to Southern California, Petco Park even features a beach. “The Beach” is located just beyond right field and is open to all ticket holders from gate opening to the beginning of the game, then strictly for bleacher seat ticket holders at game time.

If you and your grandchildren love to sail (or have always wanted to try), what better way to spend a day than on the world’s oldest active ship? Star of India, which first set sail in 1863, is just one of the historical ships available to tour at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

If you’re looking for a wild and weird experience, check out the San Diego Natural History Museum’s “SKULLS” collection. Researchers have put together a collection of over 200 different skulls of animals ranging from snakes to a rhinoceros. On the SKULLS chalkboard, grandkids can draw their own or write down a question for the scientists. If a day of examining skulls doesn’t quite thrill you, the museum has plenty of other lively exhibits like “California: A Water Story” where your grandchildren can learn about the effects of climate change on bodies of water including the Pacific Ocean.

The New Children’s Museum gives youngsters the chance to think, play and create in lots of interactive exhibits including a climbing wall, a chalkboard wall and craft tables. The museum currently has a “Trash Art” gallery, where children can play games while learning about the importance of recycling.

Visit the birthplace of California in historic Old Town San Diego, the site where the first permanent Spanish settlement was built in 1769. Check out three historic parks, hundreds of stores and restaurants and historic sites like the Mason Street School, San Diego’s first one room schoolhouse. Brave grandchildren may want to explore the Whaley House, ranked one of the most haunted houses in the United States, located on San Diego Avenue.

Seaport Village is a great place to spend a relaxing day near the water. It has plenty of shops of restaurants to visit, but what makes it a great place for you and your grandchildren is the outdoor entertainment. Sit near the fountain or the East Gazebo to catch the live music performances. Or take a walk along the harbor right as the sun sets for breathtaking skies.

Mission Beach Boardwalk is the heart and soul of San Diego’s beach community and a great trip to make with the entire family. Splash around in the Pacific Ocean, lie on the beach or find a spot on land for some very interesting people watching. If it’s not too hot out, rent bicycles or roller blades to cruise up and down the boardwalk. Just don’t forget to apply sunscreen before you start having too much fun!

Experience the fun of Oceanside amusements like Atlantic City and Coney Island on the West Coast at Belmont Park. Here you can ride dozens of rides, play carnival games at Midway Games or climb into adventure on the Sky Ropes. There’s plenty of fun--both indoors and outdoors--for you and your grandchildren. One of Belmont Parks most popular attractions is the Wave House, where simulated surfing and body boarding are a must try.

Comments

Great listing of places to visit. I have also used another resource at www.sdfamilyfun.com during my visit to San Diego. My grandchildren had so much fun and many of the activities and events were FREE!!! :-)

PattyLeePutter on 2013-10-02 12:21:43

For those of you who are looking into moving into San Diego, even for being closer to your family there, check out: http://www.wesellsandiegorealty.com for help in looking for a wonderful home close to your relatives. They will help you look for what you want.

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